COMMON POLICY FOR FRANKLIN CENTRAL SUPERVISORY UNION
ST. ALBANS CITY, ST. ALBANS TOWN, FAIRFIELD,
BELLOWS FREE ACADEMY UNION DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL #48,
AND NORTHWEST TECHNICAL CENTER

Code D2

Policy on Professional Development

Professional development for teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, general staff and board members will be linked to student achievement as outlined by the school action plan and strategic plan.

Principles to Guide Professional Development
The school will develop a professional development system that is characterized as follows:

  1. its primary focus is on improved student learning, social development and achievement;
  2. it is based on current, documented research findings;
  3. it provides structure and substance that allow continuity;
  4. it focuses on content and teaching methods and an effective learning environment;
  5. it includes the needs of all who contribute to the education system;
  6. it is developed and directed by professional educators and other qualified individuals.

Student performance data will be used to develop annual and multi-year professional development programs.

A professional development committee composed of teachers and administrators will create a plan to accomplish its professional development goals.

After consultation with the professional development and action planning committees, the superintendent/designee will inform the school board of the professional development plan on an annual basis. The superintendent/designee will make recommendations for financial resources and time for educators to participate in this plan.

The principal/tech director(s) will:

  • coordinate professional development activities with supervisory union goals, as well as with local and regional standards Boards, to ensure that each professional educator’s Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) is, to the fullest extent practicable, aligned with the school’s action plan and professional development needs;
  • review each teacher’s yearly plan to ensure alignment with school and supervisory union goals;
  • provide opportunities to prepare educators to utilize assessment data to increase student achievement and to improve the curriculum;
  • ensure new teachers:
    1. are provided with training in standards-based instruction,
    2. are given a mentor during the first two years of employment, and
    3. work with the local and regional standards boards to establish an IPDP for the licensure period.

The principal/tech director, working in collaboration with the superintendent, will at least annually report to the school board the effectiveness of staff professional development and the relationship to the student achievement goals identified within the annual action plan.

The school board will negotiate employment contracts that place high priority on professional development that is aligned with student achievement.

 

  Fairfield Town City FCSU BFA
1st Reading: 11/12/07 11/14/07 12/13/07 11/15/07 12/04/07
2nd Reading: 12/03/07 06/11/08 06/12/08 06/19/08 06/03/08
3rd Reading: 06/09/08        
Date Warned: 08/01/08 08/01/08 06/17/08 08/01/08 08/01/08
Date Adopted: 08/18/08 08/13/08 06/26/08 08/21/08 08/12/08

Legal Reference(s):
1 VSA, § 312 (Open Meeting Law)
16 VSA, § 165 (Public School Quality Standards)
21 VSA, § 1721 et seq (Labor Relations)
Vermont State Board of Education Rules §§2120.4, 2120.5

F:\Common Files\1POLICIES\FSCU\working\D2 Professional Development Policy 050407.doc